How Volunteering Has Shaped My Life: A Journey of Learning and Inspiration

Dec 16

Volunteering has been a powerful force in shaping my life’s journey, teaching me lessons and touching my heart in ways I never imagined. Each experience has been a stepping stone, leading me to unexpected paths and deep connections with people across the globe.

After completing my undergraduate degree, I embarked on a volunteering adventure in Pakistan, where I joined a school education project that aimed to integrate health into the primary curriculum. This opportunity allowed me to work closely with teachers and students in various settings—private, public, slum areas, and community-based schools with Afghan refugees. It was during this time that my passion for public health was ignited, prompting me to pursue a master’s degree focusing on communities that have been forcibly displaced, such as refugees.

Following my graduate studies, I interned with the Aga Khan Foundation in Khorog, Tajikistan, a remote mountainous region. Here, I encountered individuals eager to apply to universities abroad. I spent evenings and weekends assisting them with college applications, and years later, I learned that many had pursued their bachelor’s, master’s, and even PhDs abroad. This rewarding experience inspired me to continue this work and eventually led to the founding of my business, Tasneem Damji Coaching.

While my son was in kindergarten at an international school in Tajikistan, I volunteered to lead a club for high school students, helping them craft essays for college applications. This involvement grew into teaching high school courses and working extensively with Grade 12 students on their college applications, ultimately guiding me to a career as a high school teacher.

One of the most fulfilling moments came when I learned about a young woman from Tajikistan accepted to a university in Paris but lacking financial support to attend. I reached out to the Spark of Hope Foundation, an organization I had become acquainted with, which supports women from remote, conflict-torn areas. They provided the financial assistance she needed for both her undergraduate and master’s studies.

Volunteering has also been profoundly personal. In the mid-2000s, I learned of a tragic situation involving a Tajik man in the US, who was killed while working to support his family. The story struck home, rekindling memories of my own father’s passing overseas. I felt compelled to help his family and collaborated with others to raise funds to bring his body home and support his family.

And I will never forget assisting a little girl born in Tajikistan with weak hip joints, a condition doctors deemed hopeless. Being a new mother, her story deeply resonated with me. I raised funds for surgery, and years later, I witnessed her running joyfully, defying the odds. Her journey continued with more surgeries, supported by fundraisers organized by a local organization. Today, she flourishes as a remarkable young woman of 17.

These experiences taught me the profound truth that each individual has the power to make a difference. The act of helping one person sends ripples through their family and community, amplifying the impact in unforeseen ways.